Current Status and Challenges for Public Health Care Governance in South Korea

Abstract

The rationale for public health governance consists of the social model of health, population aging, and people-centeredness. The principles of action involved are inclusiveness and comprehensiveness in terms of health system and community-based perspective. The Public Health and Medical Service Act in 2012 and the National Plan of Public Health Care Development in 2018 contributed to the establishment of universal public health care, the strengthening of regional government accountability, and the building of public health governance infrastructures in South Korea. The main actors of public health governance are 17 regional governments, 16 Public Health Care Institutes and 58 Accountable Care Hospitals in South Korea. They support the health care policy governance and oversee service delivery in order to ensure access for residents to essential health care in community. Therefore, central and regional governments in South Korea need to hear the community experts and front-line actors and provide support using the national plans, budgets, health insurance payments, administrations, human resources, organizations, information systems, etc.